Rebecca Romijn reflects on Mystique return in 'Avengers: Doomsday' amid unfinished script and X-Men reunion
Rebecca Romijn, best known for her iconic portrayal of Mystique in the original X-Men trilogy, has offered new insights into her unexpected return for Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Doomsday. Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter at San Diego Comic-Con, the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds actress opened up about stepping back into a role she first inhabited more than two decades ago.
Rebecca Romijn discusses reprising Mystique in Marvel's Avengers: Doomsday and reuniting with original X-Men cast as filming continues.
Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for Paramount+
Production on Avengers: Doomsday, one of Marvel’s most ambitious crossover films to date, remains tightly guarded. Romijn revealed that the script is still in development, leaving many cast members uncertain about their final scene counts or story arcs. “They keep everything very close to the vest,” she explained. “We don’t know yet.”
Asked whether she had read the full screenplay, Romijn artfully dodged the question. “I cannot confirm nor deny that I have read the entire script,” she said with a smile, exemplifying the high level of secrecy surrounding the project. Her reluctance extended to the identities of her co-stars, though she confirmed filming with both familiar and new faces in what she described as a “surreal” blend of past and present.
The experience of reuniting with former X-Men castmates stirred unexpected emotions for Romijn. She described the shoot as dreamlike, with her mind grappling with memories tied to a character she first portrayed 25 years ago. “My brain was really trying to organize it,” she shared. “It was very surreal.”
Returning to the character of Mystique after nearly two decades brought with it a profound sense of ownership. Romijn acknowledged her early self-doubt during the original trilogy, citing imposter syndrome as a young actress navigating her first major franchise. “I thought maybe I was just the model available at the time,” she admitted. “But I auditioned, I got the role, and this time, I had no doubts. It was a very different experience.”
Marvel officially unveiled the Avengers: Doomsday cast earlier this year, generating buzz for its inclusion of several legacy characters from 20th Century Fox’s X-Men universe. Alongside Romijn, returning cast members include Patrick Stewart as Professor X, Ian McKellen as Magneto, and James Marsden as Cyclops. Alan Cumming reprises his role as Nightcrawler, and Kelsey Grammer returns as Beast. Their participation signals a significant convergence between the Fox-era X-Men and Marvel Studios’ expanding multiverse.
